ASCL comment on Education Secretary’s call over unconditional offers

Responding to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s address to the Universities UK conference about unconditional offers, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“We agree with Gavin Williamson that universities should stop the misuse of unconditional offers. The practice of making these offers on condition that the candidate makes the university their first choice is not in the best interests of students. 

“It demotivates students when they are studying for A-levels and other important qualifications and encourages them to choose courses which are not necessarily the best option for them. The explosion in unconditional offers is obviously driven by marketing rather than academic considerations.

“Universities should agree a code of conduct which puts a stop to this arms race and ends the misuse of these offers.”